Communicating with
communities about emergency
preparedness:
Resources, strategies, and
experiences
New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene
Office of Community Relations
Sarah Roberts
May 29, 2003
DOHMH is one of many
• Other government agencies make
presentations on emergency preparedness
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NYPD
FDNY
Red Cross
Dept. of Education
FEMA
Homeland Security
DOHMH presentations include
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What DOHMH is doing now to prepare
Type of emergencies DOHMH is preparing for
DOHMH’s role during a public health emergency
What people can do now to prepare for an
emergency
• Where people can get more information now and
in the future
• What might DOHMH tell people to do in case of
an emergency
Enhancing Communication
Capacity
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Providers
Public
Other agencies
DOHMH employees
DOHMH staff training
• Risk Communication
• Media training
• Speaker’s bureau
Public
• Informing community leaders
– Preparedness activities
– Sending them regular updates about DOHMH activities
and information sources
• Website
• Email/fax lists of CBOs
• Educational materials
– Fact sheets
– Video
– Brochures
• Media
• Presentations (upon request)
What can people do now to
prepare?
• Keep informed
– NYC Aware at nyc.gov/health
• Prepare for emergencies
– Same as for other emergencies
• Have an emergency plan for your family
– Where you will meet if something happens
– Out of state contact to phone
• Enough food/water for 3 – 4 days
• Radio with batteries
– See OEM and Red Cross household preparedness
guides
What can people do to protect their
health in case of an emergency?
• In the event of any terrorist attack:
– Turn on TV or radio
– follow emergency instructions
• Depending on the threat and risk posed,
officials may tell you to:
– Stay where you are, or
– Evacuate the area immediately, or
– Seek shelter at a designated location
Frequently asked questions
• What should I do if there is an attack?
• Where can people go to get more information?
• How are we preparing for the needs of “special
populations”?
• What are you doing in my neighborhood? Is my
hospital prepared?
• Will I be able to speak with a live person if there is
an emergency?
More challenging FAQs
• The detailed question about a specific agent
• The worst case/specific case scenario
question
• “Have you been vaccinated against
smallpox?”
• “Do you have enough funding?” / “Is the $
you are spending on preparedness taking
away from other core public health
activities?”
Example of SARS
• SARS in NYC
– As of May 27, 2003
• In NYC, there have been
– 3 probable cases of SARS
– 19 suspect cases of SARS
• All recently traveled to affected area
• no local spread
Messages as of 5/28/03
• There has been NO community transmission
of SARS in NYC
– No need to avoid any area of the city
– No need for anyone who has recently traveled to
an affected area who DOES NOT HAVE
SYMPTOMS to stay home or away from work
– Best thing for people to do is stay informed
• DOHMH has been
– Working with health care providers
– Investigating possible cases and preparing for the
possibility that local spread may occur
How Can People Protect
Themselves From SARS?
• Avoid nonessential travel to affected areas *
• WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY!
– Good General Health Practice
• No special precautions for the general public
• If you feel sick, get medical care and stay home
• Suspect and probable cases of SARS should
– Stay away from school, work, day care, other public
areas until 10 days after fever and respiratory
symptoms resolve/subside
– Avoid visitors
* Check the CDC & WHO websites (www.cdc.gov & www.who.int) for
updated travel advisories
Public information on status of
SARS in NYC
• DOHMH communicates with the public
– Community presentations
– Outreach in and meetings with Chinese/Chinese
American communities in NYC
– Distributing fact sheets
• Via email/fax lists
• At presentations/community meetings
– Information on website, nyc.gov/health
– Press releases and press conferences
DOHMH website
• SARS Facts
– Fact sheets in multiple languages (English, Chinese,
Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish)
– Press Releases (multiple languages)
• Health Care Provider Information
• Guidelines and Recommendations for Health Care
Workers
• Number/Status of Probable and Suspected Cases
in NYC
• Links to the CDC and WHO websites
• http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/sars.html
FAQ’s about SARS
• Quarantine – why isn’t govt. quarantining
everyone coming in from an affected area?
• Should workplaces, schools, etc. exclude people
or quarantine people who come in from an
affected area?
• Will any hospital be a SARS treatment center if
SARS spread in NYC?
• MASKS!
– Will the health department give them to people if an
outbreak?
– Which kinds are useful?
FAQs about SARS (cont)
• Is it safe to eat in Chinatown?
– Is saying that there is, at this point, no reason to avoid
any area of the city based on science or political
correctness?
– Is saying that you can’t tell if someone has SARS by
their race or nationality political correctness or based in
science?
– What are you doing to address discrimination against
and stigmatization of Asian people in NYC?
– My friend was in Flushing and now has a cough, but
her doctor won’t do anything about it…Can the health
department screen her?
Mental Health
• Always acknowledge the stress of hearing
about/thinking about these things
• Don’t “over-provide” information – for people
who are interested, give them resources so they
can learn more
• Let people know that DOHMH has people
worrying about all of this full time
• Resources for people in crisis or who need
counseling provided
Final thoughts
• Provide
– Regular updates
– Accurate information